There are 118 comments on the
Newsday
story from Apr 8, 2008, titled Brookhaven to vote on trapping feral cats -- Environmental Issu....
In it, Newsday reports that:

In a move Brookhaven officials hope will assuage fears that feral cats pose a threat to endangered piping plover at Cedar Beach, the town is expected to approve tonight a $10,000 contract with a professional ...

I competely disagree with Paul. Obviously, he has no understanding of how an effective TNR program operates. I also completely ignore the ridiculous postings from the fellow calling himself Joe Cop. Obviously, he is either deeply disturbed or some bored moron who finds it amusing to post outrageouds suggestions to inflame the random reader. If he is indeed a member of law enforcement, and I doubt it, steps should be taken to identify and remove him from the force, for, if he is not mentalle aberrant, he is at least completely irresponsible in the avocation of casual gun use by the general public!

I am fortunate to live in the Town of Southampton, where our feral cat program works extremely well. In combination with our no-kill shelter, vets who are willing to perform spays and neuters pro bono or on a nominal scale, and volunteers who will foster young kittens until adoption or feed the colonies, our cat problem has steadily improved, particularly over the last ten years.

For those unfamiliar: A TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release) program is essentially described in the title. Those cats who are too ill, too injured or too old are humanely euthanised. Those who are too wild to become suitable pets are "fixed" and returned to their colony. Young kittens and cats, or those dumped off who were former loving pets are fostered or put into the shelter for adoption. Over time, with diligence in trapping new arrivals and attrition as the older members of the colony can no longer reproduce, the colonies die out and disappear. It is both humane, and cost effective.

Shooting the cats is CERTAINLY NOT the answer! It is cruel, dangerous to the surrounding humans, and terribly unfair. These cats do not choose their lifestyle. Irresponsible humans have created the problem, and the solution is not to murder them outright nor to attempt to starve them out by passing legislation making it illegal to feed them! The sad fact is that neither method will EVER sure the problem. And, a starving animal is dangerous and desperate, no matter the species. Poor nutrition will certainly foster diseases, and may lead to attacks on other domesticaed animals, or fights with domesticaed animals which will spread said diseases.

The Town of Brookhaven needs to entirely rethink the matter. Here in Southampton Township, and East Hampton also, we have learned to deal with a situation that recurs every year. Visitors obtain a cute kitten for the kiddies to play with, and when they leave at the end of the season, they either give kitty a ride to the beach, or leave her behind to fend for herself. Should she not come across a kind hearted soul, or be captured under the program, she WILL reproduce if not spayed, and she, and her kittens, face a dangerous, uncertain and unpleasant future.

We frown upon people running about with guns taking potshots at everything they think is a "feral" cat. We also choose not to ignore the obvious problem, or to poison or kill them all. It's expensive and short sighted, as next season we will have it to do all over aqain. Even with the program, we are always getting new cats dumped off somewhere, but, if they cannot find another intact adult to breed with, we have a MUCH better chance of controlling the situation.

I would urge those in the decision making position in Brookhaven to consult with Animal Control officials in SHT, or with SHT Supervisor Anna Throne-Holts office. She was instumental in bringing about the privatization of our shelter, and I am certain her office would be more than willing to offer advice and assistance to the Town of Brookhaven as well.

Thank you for taking the time to read my opinion. I wish you all the best with the matter, and sincerely hope you choose a solution which is both humane, and effective in terms of cost and long term operation. Cheers!

The TNR program is not a viable soloution for the direct and overwhelming impact feral cats have on wildlife and our local ecosystem. It will be at best a "feel good" soloution, with no effect on the problem. Question: where will the neutered cats be released? Brookhaven town does not have the forest area to absorb even a fraction of their numbers. Are we willing to subject the wildlife in their newfound "home" to the damage they will do? I stand by my opinion expressed in Monday's forum. Feral cats should be declared legal prey for shotgun hunters. There should be a bounty paid for the extinction of each, to cover the cost of amunition and equipment. While this soloution may sound harsh to some, it is far more humane than the miserable existance and eventual death from disease and starvation of all feral cats.

And then you will be forced to watch as kittens slowly starve, then die as they cry for their mama.

I competely disagree with Paul. Obviously, he has no understanding of how an effective TNR program operates. I also completely ignore the ridiculous postings from the fellow calling himself Joe Cop. Obviously, he is either deeply disturbed or some bored moron who finds it amusing to post outrageouds suggestions to inflame the random reader. I am fortunate to live in the Town of Southampton, where our feral cat program works extremely well. In combination with our no-kill shelter, vets who are willing to perform spays and neuters pro bono or on a nominal scale, and volunteers who will foster young kittens until adoption or feed the colonies, our cat problem has steadily improved, particularly over the last ten years.For those unfamiliar: A TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release) program is essentially described in the title. Those cats who are too ill, too injured or too old are humanely euthanised. Those who are too wild to become suitable pets are "fixed" and returned to their colony. Young kittens and cats, or those dumped off who were former loving pets are fostered or put into the shelter for adoption. Over time, with diligence in trapping new arrivals and attrition as the older members of the colony can no longer reproduce, the colonies die out and disappear. It is both humane, and cost effective.Shooting the cats is CERTAINLY NOT the answer! It is cruel, dangerous to the surrounding humans, and terribly unfair. These cats do not choose their lifestyle. Irresponsible humans have created the problem, and the solution is not to murder them outright nor to attempt to starve them out by passing legislation making it illegal to feed them! The sad fact is that neither method will EVER sure the problem. And, a starving animal is dangerous and desperate, no matter the species. Poor nutrition will certainly foster diseases, and may lead to attacks on other domesticaed animals, or fights with domesticaed animals which will spread said diseases.The Town of Brookhaven needs to entirely rethink the matter. Here in Southampton Township, and East Hampton also, we have learned to deal with a situation that recurs every year. Visitors obtain a cute kitten for the kiddies to play with, and when they leave at the end of the season, they either give kitty a ride to the beach, or leave her behind to fend for herself. Should she not come across a kind hearted soul, or be captured under the program, she WILL reproduce if not spayed, and she, and her kittens, face a dangerous, uncertain and unpleasant future.We frown upon people running about with guns taking potshots at everything they think is a "feral" cat. We also choose not to ignore the obvious problem, or to poison or kill them all. It's expensive and short sighted, as next season we will have it to do all over aqain. Even with the program, we are always getting new cats dumped off somewhere, but, if they cannot find another intact adult to breed with, we have a MUCH better chance of controlling the situation.I would urge those in the decision making position in Brookhaven to consult with Animal Control officials in SHT, or with SHT Supervisor Anna Throne-Holts office. She was instumental in bringing about the privatization of our shelter, and I am certain her office would be more than willing to offer advice and assistance to the Town of Brookhaven as well.Thank you for taking the time to read my opinion. I wish you all the best with the matter, and sincerely hope you choose a solution which is both humane, and effective in terms of cost and long term operation. Cheers!

While waiting for these released feral cats to die ,how many more birds are killed ?. When I moved to my home on more than 4 acres in 1985 there were wild rabbits feeding everyday .birds of every type and other small animals such as chipmunks .Now there are few birds no rabbits left but more cats .

The TNR program is not a viable soloution for the direct and overwhelming impact feral cats have on wildlife and our local ecosystem. It will be at best a "feel good" soloution, with no effect on the problem. Question: where will the neutered cats be released? Brookhaven town does not have the forest area to absorb even a fraction of their numbers. Are we willing to subject the wildlife in their newfound "home" to the damage they will do? I stand by my opinion expressed in Monday's forum. Feral cats should be declared legal prey for shotgun hunters. There should be a bounty paid for the extinction of each, to cover the cost of amunition and equipment. While this soloution may sound harsh to some, it is far more humane than the miserable existance and eventual death from disease and starvation of all feral cats.

That is a nonsense answer not backed by any science. First of all true Feral Cats are born outside and survice just fine with at best a little assitance from the many groups who will catch spay/neuter and release them, as well as provide them with some extra food support. This would be a better more cost effective solution. Second and as important is that allowing hunting or trapping of feral cats will ultimately guarantee more house cats are killed or maimed than feral cats in fact from my experiences peoples dogs are shot as well. Stupid move!

To prevent predation of native species, & the spread of diseases, destroying the feral strays is the only realistic option.

That is a nonsense answer not backed by any science. First of all true Feral Cats are born outside and survice just fine with at best a little assitance from the many groups who will catch spay/neuter and release them, as well as provide them with some extra food support. This would be a better more cost effective solution. Second and as important is that allowing hunting or trapping of feral cats will ultimately guarantee more house cats are killed or maimed than feral cats in fact from my experiences peoples dogs are shot as well. Stupid move!

Why Cats Should Be CulledEvery few months, the fact that domestic cats are ruthless killers hits the news. This past summer it was the Kitty Cam, memorably explained by webcomic The Oatmeal, which saw nearly one-third of cats kill 2 animals each week on average. In 2011 a study found that domestic cats were responsible for nearly half of predation on baby gray catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis), a shy bird common in the mid-Atlantic and named for its cat-like call. And this morning, Nature Communications published a large analysis estimating how many animals are killed by cats annually in the US: 1.4-3.7 billion birds and 6.9-20.7 billion mammals each year .

Why Cats Should Be CulledEvery few months, the fact that domestic cats are ruthless killers hits the news. This past summer it was the Kitty Cam, memorably explained by webcomic The Oatmeal, which saw nearly one-third of cats kill 2 animals each week on average. In 2011 a study found that domestic cats were responsible for nearly half of predation on baby gray catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis), a shy bird common in the mid-Atlantic and named for its cat-like call. And this morning, Nature Communications published a large analysis estimating how many animals are killed by cats annually in the US: 1.4-3.7 billion birds and 6.9-20.7 billion mammals each year .http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/culturing...

My cat was a serial Blue Jay killer. He's no longer allowed outside after he tried to kill TWO baby rabbits at one time.

Feral cats carry over thirty diseases and parasites that will kill you and your children . They are responsible for more species extinctions than any other introduced species. They decimate bird, amphibian and small mammal populations in their ranges. They are extinction machines. Plague or rabies with a chaser of TB anybody ? Cat hoarders will win , you will lose. Toxoplasmosis in your brain anybody?

Feral cats carry over thirty diseases and parasites that will kill you and your children . They are responsible for more species extinctions than any other introduced species. They decimate bird, amphibian and small mammal populations in their ranges. They are extinction machines. Plague or rabies with a chaser of TB anybody ? Cat hoarders will win , you will lose. Toxoplasmosis in your brain anybody?

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